Tuesday, October 16, 2012

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

I Henry Lyte’s classic hymn, “Abide with Me,” he wrote: “Change and decay in all around I see; o Thou who changest not, abide with me.” How right he was! Most of us first learned the word “decay” as children visiting the dentist and hearing about tooth decay. Engineers warn of the decay of our infrastructure, roads, and bridges. City planners talk of urban decay. Philosophers warn of moral decay. The worst decay is what happens to our own bodies. As Job 13:28 puts it, “Man decays like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.”

But the Bible teaches that one day our bodies will be clothed with the incorruptibility of eternal life. The body is sown in corruption, but raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor but raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, but raised in power. One day we’ll put on new bodies and enjoy the glories of resurrection life in the new heavens and new earth. But until then, we’ll abide in Him and be inwardly renewed day to day.

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

If you are on the streets of Paris, you might hear someone say, “C’est la vie!” If you are in other places you might hear the Spanish-sounding (but not grammatically accurate) phrase, “Que sera, sera!” Or if you are on the streets of Anytown, U.S.A., you might hear, “Whatever!” or “What are you ‘gonna do?” All these phrases express a fatalistic view of life.

The Bible suggests a much different way to view that happens in life, Joseph being a perfect example. He was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers and falsely imprisoned before finally rising to a position of great authority. He used his power to provide, decades later, a safe harbor for his father’s family who were fleeing a famine in Canaan. Only then did Joseph realize why God had sent him ahead of his family to Egypt: “to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:20 is the Old Testament version of Romans 8:28---the truth that God has a purpose in the things His children experience.

If you are in a hard place today, take a “faithilistic,” not a “fatalistic” view of your circumstances. God, not “life,” is in control.

Joseph said…, “Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

The Christian spirit, wrote Jonathan Edwards, is “a forgiving spirit or a disposition to overlook and forgive injuries… Without it the apostle tells us… we are a sounding brass or… tinkling cymbal. There is no one virtue or disposition of the mind that is so often and so expressly insisted on in the marks that are laid down in the New Testament, whereby to know true Christians.” [1]

Few men were more abused than Joseph at the hands of his brothers. He was kidnapped, torn from his father, nearly killed, stripped, sold into slavery, accused of sexual assault, entombed in an Egyptian prison, and held in bondage form age 17 to 30. Yet afterward he comforted his brothers, spoke kindly to them, and cared for their needs.

Have you spoken kindly to someone who has hurt you? It’s only possible by the grace of the Lord Jesus, who forgives us and asks us to forgive others. Release those feelings of bitterness. Nail them to the cross. And extend the grace you received to someone who needs it today.

Recommended Reading: Matthew 18:21-35

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Nothing can be invented that is a greater absurdity than a morose, hard, close, high spirited, spiteful true Christian.

Friday, October 12, 2012

I'm sorry for not posting sooner, but my Mom went to be with the Lord Jesus Monday, October 8, 2012. This has kept me busy and will keep me busy for a few more days. Thank you for understanding. I've lost my best friend when she went home, but I have a "Friend that sticks closer than a brother." She will always be in my heart and mind.

Please pray for me and my family as we remember her for being the "Best Mom in the World." I love you mom and always will.

By faith [Moses] forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

Counselors and life-coaches will often have their clients construct a “life map”---a visual representation of the major periods and events in their life leading up to the present. A life map can also project into the future as a set of goals.

No one could have constructed a more concise and balanced life map at the end of life than Moses. The hero of Israel died at the age of 120 after living through three periods of 40 years each. His first 40 years were spent being raised in royalty in Egypt. The second 40 years were spent in humility as a shepherd in Midian. And the last 40 years were spent shepherding Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan. Moses’ life looked orderly in hindsight, but it probably didn’t feel that way to him while living it. His secret was to continue doing the next right thing that God revealed.

Looking back, life looks like the front of a tapestry---a beautifully-woven image. In process, life can look like the back of the tapestry---knots, tie-offs, and dangling threads. The secret is to trust that the final image will make beautiful sense, just as it did in Moses’ life.

They stood in their place according to their custom, according to the Law of Moses the man of God…

The most famous work of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, the seventeenth-century Spanish novelist, is Don Quixote de La Mancha---the story of a knight from the La Mancha region of Spain. Since La Mancha was a geographical region, we could easily translate “man of La Mancha” as “man from La Mancha.” And the same is true when using the biblical phrase “man of God.”

The easiest way to understand the meaning of “man of God’ is to think of it as “man from God.” The phrase occurs 78 times in the New King James Version of the Old Testament and most often refers to prophets---those who spoke words from God on His behalf. The prophets were men of God because they came from God to speak to the people. “Man of God” describes one man in the Old Testament more than any other: Moses. He was a man sent by God to speak the words of God to Pharaoh in Egypt. And later he spoke words for God to the people of Israel.

The defining characteristic of a man or woman of God today is that they say what God says. Instead of putting words in God’s mouth, They put His Word in theirs.

Recommended Reading: Deuteronomy 34:10-12

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It takes a lifetime to prepare a sermon because it takes a lifetime to prepare a man of God.

Sometimes we use the phrase, “The Lord will provide,” to comfort someone in need. Perhaps no one in the history of mankind understood the Lord’s provision better than Abraham. His test of offering his son as a sacrifice to God rips into the heart of every one of us. Abraham knew in his head that God provided for him. But did his heart believe it? God wanted Abraham to know.

Abraham continued to believe God, though he must have been in a state of complete bewilderment. At great cost to himself, this obedient servant chose to worship God by placing the situation completely in his Provider’s hands. Instead of breaking him, the test took this patriarch to the summit of his walk with God. “Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram [the substitute sacrifice]… And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will Provide…” (Genesis 22:13-14). In Hebrew, this location is named Jehovah-Jireh.

Maybe you’re needing to experience the Lord’s provision today---a longed for answer to prayer, a job, healing. Remember Abraham and his place of Jehovah-Jireh. And as you’re waiting, make sure you’ve surrendered your will to God by faithfully obeying Him. Now wait with expectation for His Provision!

Recommended Reading: Genesis 22:8-14

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Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The newest innovation in body armor for soldiers and police officers is liquid gel. Military developers have invented a new super gel that’s lighter to wear than traditional bulletproof vest, yet more effective. The fluid has special particles that collide and lock together when disturbed, forming a hard surface that absorbs and stops projectiles. It’s cooler and more flexible to wear, and soon coming to a police officer near you.

The believer’s armor is flexible and strong; and in this hostile world it’s never safe for a Christian to leave home without it. As described in Ephesians 6, we need the utility belt of truth, the vest of righteousness, the shield of faith, the shoes of evangelism, the sword of Scripture, and the helmet of salvation.

Just as we wouldn’t think of walking out the door unclothed, let’s not leave home without the protective covering of our armor. Consciously put on each piece daily, and guard against the devil’s wiles.

Recommended Reading: Ephesians 6:10-18

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Soldiers of Jesus Christ, take up the arms which the Apostle has set before you, cover yourselves with them from head to foot, seize the sword of the Word of God, wield it courageously, and the victory will be assured, and after the victory the crown. (1)

Maybe you’ve experienced the “Why can’t you be like your brother or sister?” syndrome. Comparing is man’s way of trying to motivate and impress---not God’s.

Throughout Scripture we find flawed people whom God chose to use in a glorious way. Men and women who struggled with weaknesses and imperfections, yet held onto their faith. They inspire us to ask God, “What can you do with me?” Understand the difference? God’s way of motivating doesn’t compare us to “perfect” people who intimidate us. He uses the lives of struggling, selfish, sinful people to demonstrate what He can do when we choose to trust Him.

Take the life of Abraham. He lied sometimes and often took matters into his own hands when he felt God was taking too long. Yet God chose to make Abraham the “father of many nations”! Why? Because even amidst all his flaws, Abraham had a deep, unwavering faith.

If you’re trying to impress God by self-promoting and comparing yourself to others, put away the effort. Come to Him with the faith and candor of a child. He’ll respond and work wonders in your life.

Recommended Reading: Genesis 6:1-12

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Faith as [Jesus] characterized it is nothing less than a complete exchange of all that we are for all that He is.(1)

Thursday, October 4, 2012

People are fascinated by Noah’s ark. Toy stores sell ark play sets, which we sometimes use in telling Noah’s story in Sunday school classes. Adults seem as interested as children. A high-budget Hollywood movie is in the works; and in recent years a number of replicas of Noah’s ark have appeared around the world.

Replicas of Noah’s ark are interesting, but what we really need are replicas of Noah himself. The Bible says: “Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time and he walked in close fellowship with God” (Genesis 6:9 NLT).

We live in a world where values are reversed, evil is spoken of as good, and good is vilified as evil. That’s how it was in Noah’s day too. Yet he lived for God despite his culture, and so must we.

In a corrupt world, we can be righteous. In a dark world, we can have fellowship with God. Let’s replicate the righteous convictions of Noah. Let’s follow the example of Him who was greater than Noah---our Lord Jesus.

Recommended reading: Genesis 6:1-12

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Noah lived when the rest perished. He became heir of righteousness when others were condemned. May God make us all so, and unto His name shall be the glory.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared and ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

You’re a farmer living in medieval times. A passerby explains the features of his new smartphone. It gives you a weather report for your harvest season, a rotation schedule for using the oxen that the villagers share, the going price for chickens that your wife raises, music to listen to while you work, and you can talk to the blacksmith in the next town (and see his face) without leaving your farm. Would you believe him?

It’s a thought almost as mind-bogging as Noah hearing that rain---Which he’d never seen before---would fall from the sky and flood the earth. And Noah’s job assignment form God for the next 100 years? Build a boat to carry your family and sundry creatures to safety. Noah tried to explain it to his neighbors. But who believe such a preposterous story? Especially a wicked generation notorious for rampant iniquity, riotous violence, and religious indifference.

Faith can be a lonely place. Noah worked day after day on a boat that attracted contempt. He trusted God implicitly for a flood of rain he’d never seen. Noah’s faithful testimony gives every believer the strength to hold on in impossible circumstances. When people insult your testimony, and you wonder how God will ever bring meaning and order out of the broken pieces of your life, take a faithful stand for Him.

Recommended Reading: Isaiah 54:8-10

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Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.

And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

It was a story that touched the world. David Vetter, the little boy with big brown eyes, lived his life inside plastic isolator bubbles to protect his body from germs. Tragically, a cure for his fatal immune disease never came, and David died after a bone marrow transplant one month after his twelfth birthday in 1984. Fighting bacteria is a lifelong ordeal for our human bodies. And for the Christian, living in a sin-infested world is also a lifelong ordeal.

Even though the environment around us may be toxic, it is possible to faithfully walk with God. If you’re an ordinary person striving to possess extraordinary faith, consider the life of Enoch. He was an everyday kind of guy---not a prophet like Moses or a statesman like Daniel. He lived in a culture of such prevailing wickedness and rebellion that God ultimately judged the entire world with the Flood. But Enoch didn’t use the wickedness of his culture as an excuse for faithless living. He walked with God.

Keep walking on the road where God has placed you at the time in history. And be and extraordinary person of faith---walking with God.

Recommended Reading: Philippians 2:12-15

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His is a joy which consequences cannot quench. Hi is a peace which circumstances cannot steal.

Monday, October 1, 2012

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

In today’s world, the “centenarian club”---those living to age 100 or more---is a select group. Thousands of years ago, prior to the great flood, the goal was not living to 100 but living to 1,000! No one made it, but Methuselah came closest, dying at age 969 years (Genesis 5:27). Methuselah’s father, Enoch, was a rarity in those days---he lived only 365 years. But there was a special reason why his lifespan on earth was cut short.

Enoch’s life on earth ended unexpectedly because God removed him from earth, presumably to heaven. We are not told why God took Enoch, but we are given two clues. First, Enoch “walked with God’ (Genesis 5:22). Noah is the only other person in the Bible who “walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). Second, we are told that Enoch lived in a time of great violence and sin on the earth suggests that God removed Enoch from that environment as a reward for his righteousness.

Regardless of how long we live, our goal today and everyday should be to walk with God in a way that pleases Him.